SOX2 [SOX2/1791]

Anti-SOX2 recognizes lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Extensive anti-SOX2 staining is seen in over 90% of LSCC and largely parallels p63 expression. However, only 4.5% of lung adenocarcinoma (LACA) is positive for SOX2. In a study by Sholl et al, 29% of LACA cases exhibited at least focal p63 expression. Combined p63 and SOX-2 expression was seen in 94% of LSCC and 12% of LACA with a statistically significant difference (P<0.0001) versus p63 alone. Anti-CK 5&6 had a good sensitivity but poor specificity for LSCC. Combined anti-CK 5&6 and anti-p63 positivity was seen in 93% of LSCC and 24% of LACA. Anti-CK 5&6+/ anti-p63+/anti-SOX2+ was detected in 93% of LSCC and only 9% of LACA. These results indicate that the sensitivity of anti-p63 is equally high but its specificity is similarly variable; it was seen at least focally in close to 30% of LACA. When used together, anti-p63+/anti-SOX2+ applied to the same tumor cell population is >90% specific for LSCC. Anti-SOX2 produced moderate- to-intense staining in all 50 cases of embryonal carcinoma components with strong anti-SOX2 positivity and moderate-to- intense staining. The only other component that showed reactivity was the primitive neuroectodermal component in 11 of 14 (79%) of immature teratomas.